Province increases clean audits from two to three as Auditor-General highlights progress in financial management
Bloemfontein – Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae has welcomed the audit outcomes report for the 2024/25 financial year, presented by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke on Wednesday, 15 October, in Bloemfontein.
The presentation formed part of the Auditor-General of South Africa’s (AGSA) provincial roadshows, designed to provide insights into the financial results of various provinces following the tabling of audit outcomes in Parliament.
The Premier and Executive Council expressed satisfaction with the general improvement in audit outcomes across the province compared to the previous financial year, noting a significant reduction in audit paragraphs that reflects enhanced financial management practices and stronger accountability culture within departments.
Clean Audits and Service Delivery Linked
During her remarks, the Auditor-General emphasised that clean audits and service delivery are inseparable, stating it cannot be an “either-or” situation and that provincial government must achieve both objectives. She stressed that clean audits provide the foundation for good governance culture.
Both the Premier and Auditor-General affirmed that impunity and good governance cannot coexist, highlighting the province’s need to embrace consequence management.
A critical area for improvement identified was the need to enhance Free State Provincial Government (FSPG) project management capacity, particularly strengthening infrastructure oversight, spending, and performance information whilst urgently addressing the province-wide phenomenon of contractors abandoning paid infrastructure project sites.
Notable Improvements Recorded
For the 2024/25 financial year, the Free State recorded notable improvements, with clean audits increasing from two to three, and 75 per cent of departments and entities achieving unqualified opinions overall.
Premier Letsoha-Mathae commended Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs—both under MEC Ketso Makume—for achieving clean audits. The Free State Legislature also received a clean audit.
The Central Medical Trading Entity and Fleet Management were similarly praised for their remarkable improvement.
Challenges Remain in Key Sectors
The Auditor-General expressed satisfaction with the province’s trajectory whilst cautioning that departments such as Health and Education need to tighten their standard operating procedures (SOPs).
She commended the province for achieving 100 per cent on-time submission of financial statements, decreasing qualified audits with findings from six (38 per cent) to four (25 per cent), with no adverse findings, disclaimers, outstanding audits, or regressions—clear indicators of dedication to enhancing good governance and sound financial management.
The report demonstrates steady progress, with 19 per cent achieving clean audits and 75 per cent unqualified overall (clean plus unqualified with findings).
Commitment to Continued Improvement
On behalf of the Provincial Government, the Premier thanked the Auditor-General and her provincial team for their assistance and guidance, acknowledging that whilst considerable improvement has been recorded, her administration will continue implementing the accountability ecosystem recommended by the AG.
“We will ensure that issues of performance reporting and compliance are prioritised to foster a culture of clean governance, achieve credible reporting, and efficient use of public funds,” the Premier stated.
The session was attended by all MECs, Acting Director-General Molefinyana Phera, Heads of Departments, Free State Legislature Speaker Mxolisi Dukwana, and other Members of the Legislature.
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